1
as in controversies
variance of opinion on a matter
a dispute over the proper pronunciation of "nuclear"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disagreements
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
after much dispute, the school committee decided that all backpacks would have to be stored in lockers during class hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in challenges
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
a whole slew of relatives eager to dispute his claim to being the sole heir
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bickers
to express different opinions about something often angrily
hometown fans disputing with visiting fans over which had the better team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in debates
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion
in an extended session the city council disputed the need for a new high school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disputes
Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Community associations have found themselves in the spotlight recently with headlines about rising maintenance fees, contentious board decisions, and disputes between residents and leadership.
—Niurys Robaina, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
The measure has been delayed for months due to ongoing disputes between the Legislature and Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté over who has authority over the jail.
—Ben Wheeler
june 4, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Because family court dockets are heavily backlogged, critics say a guardian’s recommendation often becomes the final word, despite the grueling and complex nature of the disputes they are tasked with untangling.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026
Chamberlin said Caltrans has been using drones for inspections, graffiti removal and to help resolve disputes with contractors using images of sites captured by flying sensors.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Jackson’s conflict with Combs goes back roughly two decades, due to a series of contract disputes, diss tracks and their competing alcohol brands.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Funding toward three senior meal programs is hanging in the balance as the OC Board of Supervisors clash over whether to extend contracts for two providers that had engaged in legal disputes with the county.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Since 2016 the country has cycled through a succession of presidents amid corruption scandals, impeachment proceedings, constitutional disputes, and public unrest.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Joseph disputes those allegations.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 May 2026
However, the hospital disputes these characterizations.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 18 May 2026
The same report notes that Hilton publicly disputes Becerra’s assertion of front-runner status by citing polls indicating a tight race, underscoring that the campaigns are aggressively contesting the narrative rather than drifting in ambiguity.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
The subpoenas are part of the DOJ’s ongoing court case against EZ Lynk over its alleged role in Clean Air Act violations, which the company disputes.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
No one disputes that child abuse is a serious problem that demands serious policy.
—James R Mason, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
Reporting by the Salt Lake Tribune disputes this claim.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 11 May 2026
The city disputes the privatization claim, saying that the city and Boston Public Schools will maintain ownership of the stadium under a 10-year lease agreement with Boston Legacy.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
Noun
His brief tenure was characterized by disputes with the president over North Korea, Iran and Ukraine.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Community associations have found themselves in the spotlight recently with headlines about rising maintenance fees, contentious board decisions, and disputes between residents and leadership.
—Niurys Robaina, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
The measure has been delayed for months due to ongoing disputes between the Legislature and Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté over who has authority over the jail.
—Ben Wheeler
june 4, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Because family court dockets are heavily backlogged, critics say a guardian’s recommendation often becomes the final word, despite the grueling and complex nature of the disputes they are tasked with untangling.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026
Chamberlin said Caltrans has been using drones for inspections, graffiti removal and to help resolve disputes with contractors using images of sites captured by flying sensors.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026
Jackson’s conflict with Combs goes back roughly two decades, due to a series of contract disputes, diss tracks and their competing alcohol brands.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Funding toward three senior meal programs is hanging in the balance as the OC Board of Supervisors clash over whether to extend contracts for two providers that had engaged in legal disputes with the county.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Since 2016 the country has cycled through a succession of presidents amid corruption scandals, impeachment proceedings, constitutional disputes, and public unrest.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
Verb
Prosecutors say said Jor'Dynn was placed in Kelly's home by Suffolk County Family and Children Services, but County Executive Ed Romaine disputes that, saying Jor'Dynn was placed in Kelly's home by a family court judge.
—Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Joseph disputes those allegations.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 May 2026
However, the hospital disputes these characterizations.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 18 May 2026
The same report notes that Hilton publicly disputes Becerra’s assertion of front-runner status by citing polls indicating a tight race, underscoring that the campaigns are aggressively contesting the narrative rather than drifting in ambiguity.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
The subpoenas are part of the DOJ’s ongoing court case against EZ Lynk over its alleged role in Clean Air Act violations, which the company disputes.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
No one disputes that child abuse is a serious problem that demands serious policy.
—James R Mason, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
Reporting by the Salt Lake Tribune disputes this claim.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 11 May 2026
The city disputes the privatization claim, saying that the city and Boston Public Schools will maintain ownership of the stadium under a 10-year lease agreement with Boston Legacy.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disputes
Noun
-
Located opposite the balcony where King was shot, the museum’s new Legacy Experience focuses, with urgency, on the modern era, with its controversies over immigration and Black Lives Matter activism.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
And other controversies, like the war in Iran, have overtaken the immigration policy debate.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Internal disagreements over strategy, including the role of tech donors, also emerged as a key reason Mahan failed to take off.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
-
The disagreements seem to be one-way in that the sheriff wants to change the wording of agreements now rather than on the contract’s closing date.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The Holy Spirit challenges us today regarding our relationship with technology and the ongoing digital revolution.—
Pope Leo XIV,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
-
The New York Fed analysis challenges the popular narrative that artificial intelligence is the primary driver of sluggish entry-level hiring.—
Bill Pan,
Baltimore Sun,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The pope, played by Samora la Perdida, is a mincing oaf who bickers with Galas about the value of translating Wagner.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As the podcast industry debates the definition of a podcast and wades through unclear ad measurement tools, a secret industrywide taskforce has been meeting to combat the problem.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
-
Finally, leaders should pay attention to who speaks less when one person debates more.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Rounding out the top five names were seven write-in votes for the Sacramento Capitals or Capitols — which could be nicknamed the Caps to avoid quarrels over the spelling — and six votes for the Sacramento Stingers or Sting, referencing the collegiate Sacramento State Hornets.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
-
In a 2024 study, researchers found that chimpanzee mothers tended to step in to defend their children in quarrels—say, over food or space in a tree—in about half of cases the researchers observed in the wild.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Investor scrutiny grows as authorities investigate The report also questions Donut Lab’s public statements about its vehicle-making efforts.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
9 June 2026
-
The case collides with President Javier Milei’s culture war, as his government dismantles gender-equality programs and questions femicide laws, while rights groups and families flood the streets demanding protection and justice.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disputes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disputes. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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